Why Do People Kiss The Blarney Stone?

Have you ever wondered what’s the story behind the Blarney Stone? What’s all the fuss about landing a big smacker on a cold, inert lump of stone? And how on God’s good earth can a stone bestow the gift of eloquence?

That’s right – the stone is wedged right into the walls of an old medieval fortress, Blarney Castle, originally built, way back over 500 years ago, by the powerful MacCarthy clan from Cork.

Today, the interior of the castle lies in ruin. But the walls stand firm, to allow visitors climb to the battlements in search of the stone. I like the fact the castle has not been renovated. It adds to the ancient mysticism of the site.

that he who kisses the Blarney Stone

is endowed with the power ‘to blarney,’

and ‘to blarney,’ they say, is to humbug

with wheedling talk so as to gain a desired end….”

~Washington Post, 28 July 1912

Another story tells how Queen Elizabeth I ordered the Earl of Leicester to seize Blarney Castle from its Irish owner Cormac Teigue MacCarthy. But Cormac, through his gift of the gab, was up to the task of thwarting the Earl.

Whenever they met for negotiations MacCarthy distracted the Earl with banquets, entertainment and chat. The castle was never taken, and apparently the queen herself remarked the Earl’s reports on his progress were nothing but “blarney”.

And so, few dispute the stone’s powers, and what a gift it is to be able to speak a little blarney, but how and why this piece of bluestone came to be ensconced atop the battlements of a medieval keep in county Cork is another story altogether.

Myths and legends abound explaining how this came to be, but the true answer may always elude and continue to give rise to debate.

Legends Of Prophets, Saints And Kings:

One legend claims the Blarney Stone was actually Jacob’s Pillow. The prophet Jeremiah is said to have brought it to Ireland, where it became the “Lia Fáil” (pronounced Leah Fawl), meaning Stone of Destiny. This was the stone on the inauguration mound on the Hill of Tara, where the High Kings of Ireland were crowned. An ancient stone still stands on the Hill of Tara, but some believe the Blarney Stone to be the true Lia Fáil.

Another myth claims the stone was St. Columba’s deathbed pillow. He died on the island of Iona and after his death the stone was moved to mainland Scotland. There it became the Scottish Stone of Destiny.

Now the Scottish Stone of Destiny made its way back to Ireland as a gift from Robert the Bruce to Cormac MacCarthy, King of Munster, and owner of Blarney Castle. You see, Cormac didn’t like the English much, so he sent five thousand of his men over to Scotland to help Robert the Bruce defeat the English at Bannockburn in 1314.

To show his gratitude to Cormac, Robert split the Stone of Destiny and the portion we kiss today was transported back to Cork by Cormac to find a home in the walls of his MacCarthy castle.

Another legend claims the stone may have been brought back to Ireland from the Crusades. This myth claims it is the “Stone of Ezel.” This is the biblical stone behind which David hid to escape his enemy, Saul.

Another biblical origin sometimes proposed, is that this is the stone which gushed water upon being struck by Moses.

The Queen Of The Banshees:

Another legend claims it to be a true Irish stone. When Cormac Láidir MacCarthy (meaning strong Cormac MacCarthy) was building his castle he got involved in a little dispute that required him to appear in court. He said a little prayer to none other than Cliodhna (pronounced Clee-on-nah), the Queen of the Banshees.

Through a dream he received her instructions to kiss the first stone he saw on his way to the courthouse, which he duly did. He then proceeded to speak with such eloquence he won his court case. The stone was brought back to his castle and incorporated into the parapet.

You must lie on your back and then twist your spine and neck into extreme extension, then pucker those lips, to land a smooch bang smack right in the middle of the infamous stone.

And beware if you don’t have a head for heights. You can even see the ground, over 100 feet below, as you lean backwards.

Today a well trained and well practiced attendant helps all hopeful kissers to contort their spines into the requisite position, and luckily an iron railing has been placed to prevent any mishaps. Such was not the case years ago, and would-be kissers have succumbed to gravity, falling to their deaths in pursuit of eloquence.

And if you’re a germaphobe, good luck to you. On busy summer days over one thousand visitors pucker up to land their lips on this smooth and shiny slab of bluestone. If, for even one moment, you allow a thought of all that slobber cross your mind, you’ll never manage to purse those lips.

But if you’re anything like me, you’ll just throw caution to the wind and kiss that flag. The gift of the gab is so worth the risks.

A Little Poetry To End Our Blarney:

And so as a final tribute to the power of the Blarney Stone, I thought I would quote Francis Sylvester Mahony, an Irish bard of the early nineteenth century, who wrote:

There is a stone there, that whoever kisses,

Oh! He never misses to grow eloquent:

‘Tis he may clamber to a lady’s chamber,

Or become a member of Parliament.

A noble spouter he’ll sure turn out, or

An out and outer to be let alone;

Don’t try to hinder him, or to bewilder him,

For he is a pilgrim from the Blarney stone.”

~ Francis Sylvester Mahony

Don’t Forget To Check Out The Gardens:

Now many tourists to Blarney get so carried away with kissing the famous stone, they miss out on one of the highlights of a visit to the castle.

The grounds surrounding the castle are magical. So if your itinerary allows, take a little stroll through the 60 acres of parklands and discover all that Blarney has to offer.

And so I hope, as you explore the landmarks of Ireland, you may discover the enchantment that makes Ireland so captivating. And remember, Blarney is a spot where myth and legend await.

Wishing you all happy travels in Ireland.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

Let's Connect And Chat About Ireland

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Thank you for today’s blog. I was fortunate enough to visit Blarney Castle in 2013 and spent many wonderful hours there. The gardens are beautiful as well, and the poison garden is quite interesting. Had fun exploring the Rock Close, and yes, I did kiss the Blarney Stone! Thanks for bringing back the memories!

Hi Janine – It’s great that this little blog post kindled such lovely memories for you. The gardens at Blarney are lovely, for sure. Glad to hear you were lucky to visit Ireland in 2013.
Best wishes,
Mairéad

Loved this post! I climbed those steps in 2012 and kissed that Blarney Stone at 74 yeas of age! Never too late to get the gift of gab! We have visited Ireland twice and would go again in a split second. It is the land of my ancestors and I love being there. Thanks again!

Well done, Pat. Climbing those steps at 74 is no mean feat, but when the “gift of the gab” is the reward for the incredible effort, who could stay put at ground level. Lovely to hear you too feel so at home in the land of your ancestors, and that you have been blessed to be able to visit twice already.
All the best,
Mairéad

Hi Mary Ann – I’m delighted to hear you too have been bestowed with the gift of the gab since you kissed the famous stone. I was a teenager the first time I kissed it. My family are from Cork so over the years we have visited a few times. It’s also nice to know you enjoyed your trip to Blarney despite the weather.
Best wishes,
Mairéad

Thank you so much Maury. It’s lovely to know you enjoy these ramblings. I was very busy in January so I didn’t write as much as I had originally hoped, but glad I was able to surprise you with a new post this weekend. Sorry to hear you missed seeing the Blarney Stone. Sometimes it can be very busy there during the peak summer months. The stone is worth visiting, but the surrounding gardens are magnificent and not to be missed on a sunny day.
Best wishes,
Mairéad

Hi Bill – I think many people miss the gardens when they visit Blarney. They are so focused on obtaining the ever so important “gift of the gab,” they often leave before taking in all this wonderful historic site has to offer. It’s nice to know you enjoyed the gardens so much.
Best wishes,
Mairéad

Loved reading this, Mairead, as usual! I loved the speculations about what the source of the bluestone might be. One thing for sure…it is special… attention has come to identify it as a special stone. In my research for a book of Irish fun I have been working on for about 20 years now 🙂 I come across many fun facts. One of those details happens to mention a reference to Exodus 24:9 where some interpret the verse to describe the “floor” under God’s feet as or sapphire stone…a blue color.
With the stories you mentioned, it is quite interesting that the theories imply some pretty mighty things.
Well…God knows why the stone exists in the Castle…and, we can be sure it was and is pretty special!!!
Thanks, Mairead, and God bless you!

Hi Irishannie – The myths and legends surrounding the Blarney Stone definitely suggest its origins may be great indeed. Your work-in-progress book of fun Irish facts sounds as if it is full of interesting topics. Your reference to the sapphire blue stone beneath God’s feet makes me wonder even more about the origins of the Blarney Stone. We may never know the true facts of this amazing stones origins, except that it is truly a national treasure.
All the best,
Mairéad